Deadline approaching for property tax discounts

Warren County Assessors Association President Greg Klingler reviews assessment information at his desk Feb. 11. As a public service, Klinger released information this week about various property tax exemptions offered to New Yorkers. Klingler, who serves as Warrensburg town assessor, issued a reminder to property owners in Warren and Essex counties that deadlines for filing for the exemptions are now approaching.
Photo by Thom Randall.

QUEENSBURY — Applications for property tax discounts — also known as exemptions — have to be filed by March 1 in order for a property owner to be eligible for tax reductions in the 2013-2014 tax year.

Property owners may be eligible for four different exemptions on their primary residence:

• Basic STAR — A school tax exemption for which property owners only need to apply for once and remains on the property as long as the owner resides there. It has no age requirement but the applicant’s federally adjusted gross income must be less than $500,000.

• Senior Enhanced STAR — A school tax exemption for property owners that turn 65 or older sometime during 2013 and have a 2011 federally adjusted gross income of $79,050 or less. Property owners must qualify and renew annually.

• Senior Low Income — Applies to school taxes and/or town and county taxes. The applicant must be 65 and meet income requirements. Property owners with gross income less than $32,400 will qualify for an exemption on the county portion of their tax bill. Property owners must qualify and renew annually.

• Veteran’s Exemption — Applies to town and county taxes only. The resident property owner must have been honorably discharged from active duty. The spouse of the veteran, the un-remarried surviving spouse of the veteran or a Gold Star Parent may also be eligible.

Check with your local town or city assessor for more details before the March 1 deadline. Applications or renewals submitted after the March 1 deadline can not be accepted for the current year.

The above information is courtesy of the Warren County Assessors Association. For details, see: www.wcaany.com.